I will start out by saying that this was one of the first fights that my dad had me watch when I was a wee little tacker. I think I would have been about nine, ten or something like that when this fight played live. He still says it's the greatest fight he ever watched live and the real Rocky fight. Even though he's taking the piss, he's also being quite serious in that if you watch the reputed Ali/Wepner fight it simply doesn't compare to anything like this.

I must admit that when I saw this it really started my life long love affair with boxing and was also the reason I started training properly under the tutelage of my dad (he was the Aus amateur flyweight champion and was going to go pro, but decided on Uni instead after the army). Anyway, it was from this fight that I will always remember that absurd feeling of true grit, determination, heart and joy and the horror of such a loss.

If ever there was a forgotten classic 'Hollywood Rocky' war, this is the fight.

Now, the one problem with doing all this, and sadly, I'm quite positive that very few of you guys will have seen it and while I have it, it is on that grand old, ancient, forgotten technology VHS.

This is also a difficult one because in that year was the legendary fight between Duran and Barkley which was named FOTY. Not taking into account the names, age and I guess, the fact that Duran won that fight at all against all odds, this fight is greater in simple grit, guts and glory.

A young, unknown guy was called in on very short notice after the number one challenger was injured just before the last week from memory. From all accounts the fight promoters were desperate just to find someone they thought might be able to go at least three or four rounds as the champ had been blowing everyone out in the lead up to this fight. I think the only guy to go the distance with him in a few years was the ultra tough Bobby Czyz who lost a decision.

This young guy had only had fourteen fights, and had actually been fighting near where I grew up at the local RSL or basketball club when he got the call for this and was called in to fight for the WBC world title.

Well, there is a bit of history about the fight, but, what is truly staggering is that this fight is never mentioned among the great fights of all time.

Anyway, if you look at the background you can truly understand where the Rocky thing fits in. A completely unknown guy that got called in simply because they knew he could take a decent punch and would last maybe more than a couple of rounds if they (the promoters) were lucky as the 'real' title challengers certainly weren't lasting much more than that. The only difference between Rocky and this guy is the fact that Rocky had had a long club fighting career and was at the supposed end, whereas this guy was the start and had only had a few fights really.

If you have not seen this fight, do what you can to find it and see it! It is the first meeting between the 14-0 Jeff Harding of Australia and the WBC light-heavyweight champion Dennis Andries. One of the greatest forgotten wars ever.

BennyST

05-18-2009, 05:46 AM

Holy crap gents, I believe some genius has actually put their whole trilogy up on Youtube. Go and watch immediately fellas and enjoy one of the great fights you'll see.

I think the count that the referee gave to Harding in the second fight was a little short.

That has to be the most unorthodox KO punch that I've ever seen...

Pharoahe

05-19-2009, 05:39 AM

WOW! I chose between going to sleep and watching the first fight, and I'm definitely glad I chose the latter. I'd watch the rest, but it's 4:40AM...

Awesome fight, can't wait to see the others.

glidesmack

05-19-2009, 07:40 PM

worth it just for the ridiculous shot of mike tyson wearing who knows what. didn't watch the fight.

portuge puncher

05-19-2009, 08:08 PM

great fight!!!!

BennyST

05-20-2009, 05:59 AM

I think the count that the referee gave to Harding in the second fight was a little short.

That has to be the most unorthodox KO punch that I've ever seen...

Good man! The third one is also really great. But yes, wasn't it a funny one though I guess that's what made Andries so difficult to deal with for many fighters. He was certainly one of the more unorthodox fighters around in that era and had the punch to go along with it.

Jeff Harding of course didn't really have that long of a career. He won the title very early, as seems to be the case with many of the great Aussie fighters, became a two time world LHW champion and retired after only his second loss, which actually came after a brief semi-retirement when he came back and fought the great Mike McCallum. It was a very close fight, not a bad one either in fact.

In fact, this is really one of the greatest trilogies and I believe it belongs up there with the Morales/Barrera, Zasquez/Marquez, Bowe/Hoylfeild, Chacon/Limon etc etc. Truly a great series of fights and if you haven't watched them yet, get on it god damn it!

beecherhq

05-20-2009, 10:32 AM

You're right about this being the forgotten fight, i've never seen it mentioned anywhere.

[QUOTE=BennyST;5310469]I will start out by saying that this was one of the first fights that my dad had me watch when I was a wee little tacker. I think I would have been about nine, ten or something like that when this fight played live. He still says it's the greatest fight he ever watched live and the real Rocky fight.

Man , that sounds like my Dad!! He made me watch it with him when I was about 12 , and to this day , Harding -Andries 1 is my fave fight , and Harding will always be my favourite boxer.

I actually met the man a few years back , and you could tell his boxing style had taken a huge toll on him.